Gala Dinner in Porto

AmCham Gala Dinner 2026

HERE you will find the online gallery, with the full photo coverage, and below a selection of photos.

On April 15, Porto hosted the AmCham Gala Dinner 2026, an evening celebrating transatlantic relations and the growing role of the North region in strengthening the bond between Portugal and the United States.

The dinner, hosted by the President of AmCham Portugal, António Martins da Costa, and Vice President Isabel Furtado, brought together more than 150 guests in an atmosphere of sharing, recognition and commitment to the future of bilateral cooperation.

The gala was presided over by Douglas A. Koneff, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the US Embassy, and by the Mayor of Porto, Dr. Pedro Duarte.

The event opened with a cultural moment performed by a string quartet from Casa da Música, setting the tone for an evening marked by excellence and by the value placed on institutional and business relations.

In their speeches, António Martins da Costa and Isabel Furtado underlined the strategic relevance of the transatlantic axis, highlighting the North region’s growing contribution to deepening economic relations between Portugal and the United States.

The Mayor of Porto, Dr. Pedro Duarte, in turn reaffirmed Porto’s position as a city open to the world, competitive and increasingly attractive for international investment.

The year 2026 carries particular symbolism, marking the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States and AmCham Portugal’s 75th anniversary, a journey marked by a consistent vision of promoting bilateral economic relations and by a commitment to a dynamic and global business community.

One of the highlights of the evening was the Game Changers ceremony, through which AmCham recognizes organizations and personalities whose path stands out for its transformative impact on the North region’s business community and for strengthening ties with the United States.

This edition recognized:

• António Rios Amorim, for his leadership and continued commitment to innovation at the helm of Corticeira Amorim, as the fourth-generation representative of a world-leading company;
• The Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), for developing academic and scientific partnerships with leading American institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University and MIT, represented at the Dinner by Dean Rui Calçada;
• Intraplás, led by Duarte Faria, for its growth and internationalization, notably its recent industrial expansion into the United States.

The dinner was closed by Douglas A. Koneff, who highlighted the importance of a strong transatlantic relationship based on collaboration, trust and shared goals.

This edition was made possible thanks to the support of Platinum sponsors Accenture and Grupo Albión, and Gold Sponsors Boyden and Google, whose contribution was essential to the success of this initiative!